We tend to think of a tonsillectomy as something children get. But lots of adults have to get their tonsils out too—just ask Gabourey Sidibe. The actress recently tweeted Saturday about getting a tonsillectomy and declared she deserved to take “all of 2018 off” to recover from the decision.

Sidibe was probably joking about taking a whole year off, but she will need to give herself ample recovery time, Erich P. Voigt, M.D., clinical associate professor in the department of otolaryngology at NYU Langone Health, tells SELF.

Getting your tonsils out is a major surgical procedure, and while it is performed far less frequently now than it used to be, it's still one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the U.S.

The most common reasons for getting your tonsils out as an adult include chronic tonsillitis, the formation of an abscess from tonsillitis, and sleep apnea, Reena Gupta, M.D., at Osborne Head & Neck Institute in Los Angeles, tells SELF.

Tonsillitis occurs when the tonsils (the two small lymph nodes that hang down at the back of the throat) become inflamed, the Mayo Clinic explains. And anyone who’s had tonsillitis knows it can be a big deal: It’s a sore throat on a whole new level—with swollen tonsils, difficulty swallowing, chills, and a fever thrown in for good measure.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, the most common cause of tonsillitis is a viral infection, which could be anything from the common cold to the Epstein-Barr virus. But in 15 to 30 percent of cases, tonsillitis is caused by bacteria, most often a certain type of streptococcus (a.k.a. strep) bacteria, which is where the name "strep throat" comes from.

Sidibe hasn’t revealed why she’s getting her tonsils out. But Dr. Gupta says that performers may opt for the procedure thanks to the vocal effects and downtime that come with repeated bouts of tonsillitis.

A tonsillectomy removes the tonsils through the mouth, either using electrocautery (known as the extracapsular technique), or shaving them out with a microdebrider (known as the intracapsular technique). The procedure is done under general anesthesia, but most patients are discharged the same day unless there are medical reasons for a longer stay in the hospital, Dr. Gupta says.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the biggest risks associated with having a tonsillectomy include reactions to the anesthesia, bleeding during and after the surgery, swelling, and infection.

For adults, the average recovery from a tonsillectomy involves a very painful throat for at least a week.

Children recover faster and easier from a tonsillectomy than adults, Dr. Voigt says. But, for adults, the pain may be intense and it could take a longer time to heal. The pain should lessen over the second week, but it may take a full month to heal fully.

The surgical site heals similarly to a scraped knee, Dr. Voigt says, but it will develop white scabs coated in saliva and bacteria from your mouth, which can give off a foul smell (yum). There usually aren't sutures in the throat, but if they're needed, they dissolve on their own.

To aid healing after a tonsillectomy, Dr. Voigt recommends a cold, soft diet in the early post-op period to help with swelling and pain, which might include foods like applesauce or pudding. For another two weeks, Dr. Voigt suggests patients stick to soft, bland foods and get plenty of fluids. Acidic foods and sharp, hard, or crunchy foods are a bad idea because they'll be seriously irritating.

Throughout this period, your doctor will give you instructions about which pain medications to take and when to take them. Traditionally, doctors have been hesitant to recommend ibuprofen or Motrin because these drugs can thin the blood and cause post-surgical bleeding. That's why Dr. Voigt usually prescribes Tylenol with codeine or Percocet instead. However, recent research suggests the risk may not be as great as once thought. Still, you should follow your doctor's instructions about pain meds for your specific situation.

Additionally, anything that might strain the body is best avoided, including sports and heavy lifting. Dr. Voigt also suggests sleeping with the head of the bed elevated, which helps reduce swelling. And, because your body is using up more water than usual to heal and you're probably not going to be drinking as much as usual, it's probably a good idea to keep a humidifier in the bedroom to keep your throat from drying out.